Apparatus for feeding sheets from a pile



Jan. 17, 1961 N. w. TAYLOR APPARATUS FOR FEEDING SHEETS FROM A PILEFiled May 15, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. weMnn/mfiqywl? Q BY R Q &WQM;

Arr-04w ys Jan. 17, 1961 N. w. TAYLOR 2,968,481

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING SHEETS FROM A FILE Filed May 15, 1958 4Sheets-Sheet 3 ll I $3 0 v r:- j .'.'-,!!H! "i:

a Wm!!!) mi-Lu'um m l Ll INVENTOR. NORMfiN 14/727401? Arr-a e/vsys Jan.17, 1961 N. w. TA'YLOR 2,968,481

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING SHEETS FROM A FILE Filed May 15, 1958 4Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. NORMAN 14/. 770201? ATTORNEYS pallet as thelatter is withdrawn.

United States Patent C 2,968,481 APPARATUS FOR FEEDING SHEETS FROM APILE Norman W. Taylor, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignor toHarris-Intertype Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of DelawareFiled May 15, 1958, Ser. No. 735,446 21 Claims. (Cl. 271--62) Thepresent invention relates to an apparatus for feeding sheets from a pileto a sheet-handling mechanism and, more particularly, relates to such anapparatus having pile-hoisting means for maintaining the top of a pileat approximately a predetermined feeding level as the sheets are fedtherefrom.

In the type of apparatus to which the present invention relates, a pileof sheets is supported on a pallet, the pallet, in turn, being supportedon a hoist which is operable to move the pile vertically as sheets arefed from the top thereof to maintain the top of the pile at the levelrequired by a sheet separating and forwarding mechanism associated withthe apparatus.

It is conventional in an apparatus for feeding sheets from a pile to asheet-handling mechanism to provide a new pile hoist and a remnant pilehoist so that a new pile may be brought into feeding position as theremnant part of the pile being fed is exhausted, enabling the feedingoperation to be continuous without interruption to replenish the sheets.In this type of apparatus the new pile hoist is operated to elevate apallet supporting a pile -of sheets as the top sheets of the pile arefed and until the major portion of the pile is exhausted and a remnantpile remains. At this time the pallet with the remnant 'pile thereon istransferred from the new pile hoist to the remnant pile hoist, thelatter then being operated to raise the pallet as the remnant pile isfed. While the remnant pile is being fed, a new pile of sheets is placedon the new pile hoist and elevated to a position where the top of thenew pile is disposed in juxtaposition to the underside of the palletsupporting the remnant pile. The pallet supporting the remnant pile isthen withdrawn from be tween the piles to deposit the remnant pile ontothe top of the new pile while the hoists are operated to maintain thetop of the remnant pile at the necessary feed level.

conventionally the height of the top of the pile is gauged bypile-height gauging means which eflFects operation of the remnant pilehoist to maintain, during normal feeding, the pile at a height whichenables the sheet separating and forwarding suckers associated with theapparatus above the rear edge of the pile to function properly. Thepallets used with the apparatus described have heretofore beenconstructed to have a reduced thickness at the edge which is drawn lastfrom the pile so that the rear edges of the new and remnant piles may bebrought closer together than the thickness of the pallet before thepallet is completely withdrawn and the rear edge of the remnant pilepermitted to drop onto the new pile. This prevents the rear edge of theremnant pile from dropping, at one time, the full thickness of the 'Ifthe rear edge dropped the full thickness of the pallet in one step, thedrop would lower the top of the rear edge to a point where it would bedifficult or impossible for the sheet separating suckers to reach thetop of the pile.

The remnant pile hoist, in the type of apparatus for :feeding sheetsdescribed, generally comprises arms which are movable toward or awayfrom each other to engage 2,968,481 Patented Jan. 17, 1961 spaced frontguides or stakes engaging the front side of the piles and extendingupwardly to a point 'just below the feeding level of the sheets.

An important object of the present invention is to provide in anapparatus for feeding sheets from a pile, particularly an apparatushaving new pile and remnant pile hoists, a vertically movable framewhich is elevatable to maintain the top of a pile of sheets supportedthereon at a predetermined feed level as sheets are fed from the topthereof and which has a member disposable under the front edge of thepile to support the same and which is so constructed and arranged thatthe movable frame can be elevated to a point for feeding all but a thinpack of sheets at the bottom of the pile without the pile-supportingmember interfering with the operation of pull-in rolls supportedadjacent the front edge of the pile at approximately feed level.

Another object is to provide an apparatus for feeding sheets asdescribed in the preceding object in which the pile-supporting memberadapted to be disposed under the front edge of the pile is positionedbetween the front guides for the pile and in which the elevating meansis so constructed and arranged that the members for supporting the pileof sheets can be shifted laterally with respect to the front guideswithout causing relative movement between the front guides and thepile-supporting member.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved apparatus for feeding sheets from a pile, the apparatusincluding new and remnant pile hoists, the apparatus being soconstructed and arranged that as the pallet is Withdrawn, apile-supporting member mounted on the secondary elevating means movesinto a pile-supporting position under the front edge thereof to preventthe dropping of the front edge of the remnant pile onto the new pile,thereby maintaining the front edge of the remnant pile at a height whichpermits feeding the top sheets therefrom.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved apparatus for feeding sheets from the top of a .pile in which apallet having the pile mounted thereon is supported by arms of a hoist,the arms being movable toward or away from each other to selectivelyengage or disengage the pallet and in the same direction in order toside-shift the pallet and pile of sheets supported thereon.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following detailed description of the preferred embodimentthereof made with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a partof this specification and in which:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view, somewhat diagrammatic, of anapparatus embodying the present invention, but with certain details ofthe new pilehoist thereof omitted, and taken approximately along line 11of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, principally of the remnant pile hoist of Fig. l;l

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the apparatus of Fig. 2 looking in thedirection of sheet feed and from approximately line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 'is'a diagrammatic view showing the relative "position of thepile on the remnant hoist and the new pile hoist when the palletsupporting the remnant pile is .partially withdrawn.

The apparatus for feeding sheets shown in the drawings comprises new andremnant pile hoists for elevating a pile of sheets 10, as sheets are fedfrom the top thereof, to maintain the top of the pile at the levelrequired for proper operation ofthe sheet separatingand forwarding meansassociated with the apparatus. The sheet separating and forwarding meanscomprises separating suckers 11 adapted to pick up the top sheet of thepile and sheet forwarding suckers 12 for forwarding the separated sheetto pull-in rolls 13 disposed adjacent the front of the pile atapproximately the level of the suckers 12. The pull-in rolls 13 take thesheet and feed it to the sheet-handling mechanism by means of tapes 13apassing around the lower one of the rolls 13.

The-apparatus shown includes front and rear stationary uprights 15, 16and overhead side members 17 extending along the opposite sides of theapparatus and connecting the upper ends-of the front and rear uprights1'5, 16 on that side of the apparatus. Transversely spaced, stationaryguides 18 are provided and are adapted to engage the front of the piledsheets to guide the sheets in their vertical movement. A rockable shafthaving spaced vertical guide members or flaps 19 thereon extends alongthe top of guides 18. When the top sheet has been separated from thepile, the members '19 are rocked outwardly by their supporting shaft totheir dotted-line position in Fig. 4 so as to permit the movement of thetop sheet to the pull-in rolls 13.

The new-pile hoist includes pulleys 20 mounted on "the overhead sidemembers '17 and over "which cables '21 are trained. The cables 21 havestirrups at their lower ends-adapted to be "attached to the-ends 'ofrails which extend under a skid or pallet platform 22upon which a pallet23 issupported, the pallet 23 having the pile of sheets thereon to befed by the sheet separating and forwarding means associated with theapparatus. Only 'one rail and two cables 21 trained over opposed pulleys'20 on opposite side members appear in the drawing. It is to beunderstood, however, that a pair of rails and two pairs of cables 21'areutilized, one rail extending transverselyof the side members and underthe pallet skid 22 adjacent each of the opposite sides thereof. Thecables are wound on drums, not shown, and adapted to be taken "in-bymechanism, not shown, since the drums and mechanisms do not, per se,form'a part of this invention and maybe thesame as that shown in Schmidtet a1. Patent No. 2,70l,136. Suffice it to say that the cables are takenin an increment at a time to raise the pile supported thereon as sheetsare fed from its top. After a predetermined portion of the pile on thenew pile hoist has been fed, the pallet supporting the partiallydepleted pile on thenew pile hoist is transferred to a remnant pilehoist 26. The remnant pile hoist is then elevated under the control ofconventional pile-height gauging mechanism, not shown, to maintain thetop of the remnant pile supported thereon at the proper feeding level asthe sheet separating and forwarding suckers transfer the sheetstherefrom to the pull-in rolls.

The remnant pile hoist includes a rectangular frame 27 supported betweenthe stanchions or uprights 15, 16 and comprised of side bars 28' andfront and rear frame members 29 supporting and connecting the side bars28. The front and rear frame members 29 are each formed by spacedparallel plate members 29a, 29b. The frame :27 has nuts 32 at eachrofthe corners thereof which are threaded onto vertical jack screws'33.rotatably supported in brackets 34 fixed totheia'djacent upright or 16.The upper ends-of the screws 33 carry bevel gears 35 which are driven torotate the screws 33. It can be seen .jlth'at asthe screws 33arerotated, the frame 27 is raised or lowered depending upon the directionof rotation of theserews.

The screws 33 are rotated from a motor 37 mounted on a platform 38supported by the uprights 15, 16, adjacent the front right-hand side ofthe apparatus as viewed in Fig. 2. The motor 37 is connected to theinput shaft of a gear box 40 which has an output shaft connected todrive a shaft 41 extending across the front of the apparatus adjacentthe front uprights 15. The shaft 41 has bevel gears 42 thereon whichdrive respective shafts 43 extending from the front to the rear of theapparatus along respective sides ofthe apparatus. The-shafts 43 havebevel gears 44 thereon which mesh with and drive the gears 35 of thescrews 33.

The operation of the motor 37 and the mechanism for raising and loweringthe remnant pile hoist do not, per se, form a part of the presentinvention. Sufiice it to say that the motor 37 is intermittentlyoperated as required in response to pile-height gauging means to raisethe pile to maintain the top of the remnant pile'supported thereon at afeeding level, that when the remnant pile hoist is to be disabled, theraising operation of the motor 37 is discontinued, and that the motormay be operated independently of the pile-height gauging means to lowerthe frame 27 and get it inte position for the next partially depletedpile. The details of structure and manner of operation of the new pilehoist and remnant pile hoist may be the same or'similar to that shown inthe aforesaid Schmidt et al.- patent except for-those dilf'erenceshereinafter pointed out.

In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, the-pallet 23 supportingthe remnant pile is supported on the remnant pile hoist by angles- 49,50- disposed .-.on opposite sides of the pallet and extending from "thefront tothe rear of the apparatus parallel to the direction of-sheetmovement. Each angle 50 is fixed to the lower-endbf front and rear arms51, 52, respectively, the front and rear arms supporting each anglebeing opposed to the front and rear arms supporting the other angle. Thearms 51, 52 supporting each angle are fixed at their upper ends to theadjacent side bar 28 extending between the front and rear frame members29, the bars 28 being supported for rocking movement in the framemembers 29. The arms 51, 52 are disposed between the plate members 29a,29b forming the adjacent one of the front and rear frame members 29 andthe rear arms 52 each base portion 54 which extends upwardly 'above'therear frame member 29. The opposed arms 51' and the opposed arms 52positioned on the opposite sides of the frame 27 may be rocked towardand away from each other to move the angles 49, 50 toward and away fromengagement with a pallet 23 positioned therebetween. The arms are rockedabout theaxes of their respective rockshafts by operating meansincluding links 56,- 57 each pivotally connected to the portion 54 of arespective one of the rear arms 52. The links 56, 57 extend from theirrespective rear arms 52 toward the front-to-rear center line of theframe 27 and each has a strap '60 journaled to an eccentric 61 fixed toa'crankshaft 62 rotatably supported in a carriage 63 mounted on theplate members 29a, 29b forming the rear frame member 29. The shaft '62is a horizontal shaft and passes through aligned elongated slots 64 inthe plate members'29a and 29b. The high points of both eccentrics61-'are'at'the'ir maximum throw position for the same angular positionof'theshaft 62. If the shaft is rotated in one direction the links '56,57 will be moved toward eachother for l of revolution and away from eachother for the remaining It can be seen that when theeccentric=members'h'ave their maximum throw for the same shaft-position,thearms-supporting the angles 49,-50will be moving simultaneously eithertoward oraway from-the'pileup'on rotation of shaft62. A handle "66 isprovidedforfrotating the shaft 62. While the links 56, 57 arejconnecteddirectly'to the rear arms 52', it will-be noted that the front arms 51will also move toward and away from each other with the arms 52 sinceboth the arms 52 and the arms 51 are also connected to the bars 28.

While the shaft 62 may be rotated to move the arms in oppositedirections about their axes, the carriage 63 may be moved along the rearframe member 29 to cause the arms to move in the same direction abouttheir axes. The carriage 63 is formed by two slide blocks 67, onedisposed on each of the outer sides of the plate members 29a, 29bforming the rear frame member 29 and each has a recess therein forslidingly receiving the adjacent plate member. The slide blocks 67rotatably support the shaft 62 and are connected together at theircorners.

The carriage is moved along the rear frame member 29 by rotation of ascrew member 70 having one end threaded into a bore in a pin 71extending between the plate members 29a, 29b and forming the rear framemember 29 at a point adjacent the carriage 63. The screw member 70 isreceived in an opening in a spacer member 72 spacing the slide blocks 67at their lower left-hand corners and has a shoulder portion 73 whichengages the spacer member 72 and a hand knob 74 on the side thereofremote from the threaded pin 71. A pair of nuts 75 are threaded onto thescrew portion of the member 70 and abut the spacer 72 on the sidethereof opposite to the shoulder portion 73. When the screw member 70 isrotated, the threaded portions of the member are threaded into and outof the pin 71 to move the carriage 67 along the rear frame member.Movement of the carriage 67 along the rear frame member 29 will causethe arms 51, 52 to move in the same direction about their axes and willeffect a lateral or side-shifting movement of the load supported therebyin a direction dependent upon the direction of movement of the carriage.The sideshifting or lateral movement also facilitates the positioning ofthe arms 51, 52 to pick up a pallet on the new pile hoist.

In the apparatus as thus far described, the new pile hoist is operatedunder control of the pile-height gauging means to elevate a new pile ofsheets as the sheets are fed from the top thereof to maintain the top ofthe pile at the level necessary for proper operation of the sheetseparating and feeding suckers. After the new pile has been partiallydepleted the pallet supporting the pile of sheets on the new pile hoistis transferred to the remnant pile hoist by lowering the frame 27 of theremnant pile hoist to its lowermost position and operating the shaft 62to effect engagement of the angles 49, 50 with the sides of the pallet.The remnant pile hoist is then placed under the control of thepile-height gauging means, and is operated to maintain the top of theremnant pile at the proper feed level as the sheets are fed from the topthereof. Before the remnant pile on the remnant pile hoist is exhausteda new pile is brought into position on the new pile hoist and the latteris operated to raise the new pile so that the top thereof is positionedimmediately below the underside of the pallet supporting the remnantpile. When the new pile is so positioned the pallet supporting theremnant pile is withdrawn by slid-- sing the pallet out from the rearside of the remnant pile. Heretofore,

each portion of the remnant pile has, in the type of apparatus shown inthe drawings, fallen onto the new pile as soon as the pallet iswithdrawn .from underneath that portion of the remnant pile. The pilesup porting pallet has been formed with a rectangulartype cutout 77 inthe underside thereof at the forward edge of the pallet so that theforward edge of the pallet; i.e., the last edge of the pallet to bewithdrawn from the pile,

is of a reduced thickness as compared to the restof the pallet. As thepallet is withdrawn, the withdrawal movement -is stopped when the rearedge of the remnant pile .is supportedby the portion of reducedthickness. At this time the new pile hoist is operated independently ofthe remnant pile hoist to raise the new pile until the top thereof isimmediately adjacent the underside of the portion of the pallet having areduced thickness and the pallet is then completely withdrawn and theremnant pile including the rear edge thereof allowed to drop onto thetop of the new pile. By operating the apparatus in the manner described,the rear edge of the remnant pile is always maintained at proper feedinglevel since the pile-height gauging mechanism can compensate for a dropequal to the reduced thickness of the pallet although it could notreadily compensate for a drop corresponding to the full thickness of thepallet.

, In accordance with one feature of the present invention, means isprovided for supporting the front edge of the pile as the pallet iswithdrawn. To this end, a plurality of pile supporting members aredisposed between each of the stationary front guides 18 as well asoutwardly of each of the outer front guides. The pile supporting members80 comprise inverted angles 81 having a generally horizontal,pile-carrying portion and a vertical portion which depends from theouter edge of the horizontal portion. The angles 81 are each supportedby a pair of rods 84 fixedly mounted on a common pivotal support bar 85extending transversely of the front guides 18 adjacent the front sidesthereof. The support bar 85 extends outwardly of both sides of the pileof sheets being fed. The rods 84 are connected to the outer sides of thevertical portion of the corresponding angle and the support bar 85 issupported by hangers 87, 88 depending from the front frame member 29 ofthe remnant pile hoist 26. The hangers 87, 88 respectively support theopposite ends of the support bar 85 and for the major portion of theirlength are disposed outwardly of the pile being fed by the apparatus,the upper ends of the hangers 87, 88 above the suckers 11,. 12 beingbent inwardly to permit the upper ends of the hangers to be convenientlysecured to the front frame member 29, as shown in Fig. 4.

The support rods 84 are secured to the support bar 85 for rotational andtranslatory movement therewith and the support bar 85 is rockablysupported by the hangers 87, 88. A coil spring 90 is disposed about thesupport bar 85 adjacent the lefthand end thereof as viewed in Fig. l andhas one end secured to the hanger 87 and its other end to the adjacentsupport rod 84 of the adjacent pile supporting member 80. The coilspring 90 operates to urge the support bar 85 to rotate in a directionto move the pile supporting members 80 inwardly of the adjacent guides18. The inward movement of the pile supporting members 80 may be limitedby the engagement of the upper portion of a lever 91 with the front endof the angle 49, the lever 91 being carried by the support bar 85.

The spring 90 urges the pile supporting members 80 into engagement withthe front edge of the pallet supporting the remnant pile and as thepallet is withdrawn the pile supporting members will be moved inwardlyto a pile-carrying position under the front edge of the remnant pile.Pile supporting members 80 will then support the front edge of theremnant pile and raise the same as the remnant pile hoist is operatedunder the pile-height gauging means to maintain the front edge of theremnant pile at the proper feed level. The use of the members 80 tosupport the front edge of the remnant ,pile eliminates or minimizes theproblem of raising the ing theremnant pile to its i position where thereduced portion thereof is supportin'gl'therar e'dg'e of the pile i. andimmediately prior to th e operation of the new pile hoist to raise thenew pilejto dispose the same immediately adjacent the underside of the"reduced portion of the -bers 80 in their outermost position as theframe members 80 position for the entire feeding operation of theremnant pile. embodiment could be provided with edge rather than acutout as described. In this case the forward edge can be used to effecta gradual lowering of means;

pallet. .It will be noted that in this position the sheets of shown inFig. 4 the upper ends of the support rods 84 are beveled or tapered toaid in eliminating interference with the pull-in rolls and the pilesupporting members themselves are disposed inwardly of a vertical planetangent to the inner side of the pull-in, rolls. With the pilesupporting members and the support rods therefor constructed in thismanner, the pile supporting members will be partly received in the spacebetween the pull-in rolls and the piles as the frame26 is moved towardits upper limit.

After the pallet supporting the remnant pile has been withdrawn and theremaining sheets of the top pile are deposited on the new pile, the pilesupporting members 80 are moved outwardly against the bias of spring 90.This is done by pulling on the upper end of the lever 91. The-upper endof the lever 91 is bent to extend laterally so as to be in position tobe grasped by the. operator as well as to be properly disposed to engagethe forward end of angle 49 when the members 80 move inwardly. Ifdesired suitable latching or tying meansmaly be provided for latchingorholding the pile supporting members in their outermost position. Afterthe pile supporting members 80 have been moved to their outer positionthe motor 37 is operated to lower the frame 27 to position the hoist toreceive another pallet from the new pile hoist after the pallet'has beenraised by the new pile hoist above the lower level of the angles 49, 50.If latching means has not been provided the operator can either hold themem- 27 is lowered or the members may be allowed to ride down the frontof the new pile.

While the pile supporting members 80 have been described as moving intoposition upon the withdrawal of the pallet supporting the remnant pile,it will be understood by those skilled in the art that in some types ofapparatus for feeding sheets'from the top of the pile, the

pile supporting members 80 might be in pile-carrying position for theentire time that the pile supported by the remnant hoist is being fed.This is particularly true in the type of apparatus where the rear partof the pallet or pile issupported by a rail extending transversely ofthe direction of feed and which is withdrawn in a direction transverselyto the direction of feed movement. It will .also'be understood by thoseskilled in the an that, in

the illustrated embodiment, the reduced portion of the pallet supportingthe remnant pile could be carried on the horizontal pontion of theangles forming the pile supporting members 80 in which case the pilesupporting would be disposed in their pile-carrying with the disclosed atapered forward Furthermore, the pallet used the rear edge of theremnant pile while the pile hoists are operated to maintain the pile topat feed level.

It can now be seen that the present invention has provided a new andimproved apparatus for feeding sheets from the top ofa pile and that theobjects heretofore enumerated and others have been accomplished. Thedisclosed apparatus ,includesa pile hoisthaving arms which are movabletoward or away from each other to selectively engage or disengage apallet having a pile of sheets thereon which are to be fed and the hoistis so constructed and arranged that a remnant pile of sheets may besideshifted, or the arms for supportingthe pile may be side-shifted topick up an off-center pallet and remnant pile. In addition, a pile hoistfor lifting all but a small amount of a remnant pile is provided with apile supporting member adapted to be positioned under the front edge ofthe pile and is so constructed and arranged that it does not interferewith pull-in roll or rolls'adjacent the top of the pile as the hoist isoperated to its upper limit of movement. Furthermore, the pilesupporting members which are disposable under the front edge of the pilefacilitate the withdrawal of the pallet to place the remaining sheetsthereon onto a new pile disposed therebeneath without disturbing thecontinuous feeding operation and are preferably supported so that theydo not side-shift with the arms for supporting the new pile.

While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has beendescribed in considerable detail, it will be understood that it ishereby my intention to cover all modifications and constructions andarrangements hereof which fall within the ability of those skilled inthe art and within the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An apparatus for forwarding sheets from the top of a pile includingstationary upright frame members, a pile hoist for supporting a pallethaving a pile of sheets thereon which are to be fed, said hoist beingoperable to maintain the top of the pile at a feeding level andcomprising a movable frame supported by said stationary frame membersfor vertical movement and a pair of opposed arms supported on saidmovable frameandhaving pallet-engaging portions adapted to'engage theopposite sides of said pallet to support the palletand pile on saidmovable frame in a feeding position, means connecting each of said armsto said movable frame for selective movement with respect thereto tomove said pallet-engaging portions laterally toward or away fromengagement with said pallet, and operating means operatively connectedto said arms for selectively moving said arms and said pallet-engagingportions thereof laterally in the same direction whereby said arms areselectively movable to laterally shift the position of a pile of sheetssupported by said arms.

2. An apparatus for forwarding sheets from the top of a pile includingstationary upright frame members, a new pile hoist adapted to support apile of sheets on a pallet in position to be fed and operable tomaintain the top of the pile at a feeding position, a remnant pile hoistfor supporting and elevating said pallet when the pile thereon has beendepleted to a predetermined height, said remnant pile hoist comprising amovable frame supported by said stationary frame members for verticalmovement, a pair of opposed arms supported on said movable frame-andhaving pallet-engaging portions adapted to engage the opposite sides ofsaid pallet to support the pallet on said movable frame in a feedingposition for the remnant pile thereon, means connecting each of saidarms to said movableframe for selective movement with respect thereto tomove said pallet-engaging portions laterally toward or away fromengagement with said pallet, and operating means operatively connectedto said arms for selectively moving said arms and said pallet-engagingportions thereof laterally in the same direction whereby said arms areselectively movable to laterally shift the pile supporting position ofsaid arms relative to said new pile hoist and to said frame members.

3. In an apparatus for feeding sheets from the top of a pile andincluding stationary upright frame members and a pile hoist forsupporting a pallet having a pile of sheets thereon which are to be fed,said hoist comprising a movable frame supported by said upright framemembers and elevatable to maintain the top of'the pile at a feedinglevel and a pair of opposed arms supported on said movable frame andhaving pallet-engaging-portions aeeaiei adapted to engage the oppositesides of said pallet to support the pallet and pile thereon at aposition for feeding sheets from the top of the pile, the improvementwhich comprises pivot means connecting each of said arms to said movableframe and supporting said arms for selective movement about parallelaxes to move toward or away from said pallet to selectively engage anddisengage the arms with said pallet and actuating means on said frameand connected to said arms for selectively and simultaneously operatingsaid arms in the same direction about their axes whereby thepallet-supporting position of said arms may be shifted laterally.

4. In an apparatus for feeding sheets from the top of a pile of sheetsand comprising a pile hoist for lifting a pallet having a pile of sheetsthereon and for maintaining the top of the sheet pile at approximately apredetermined feed level, said hoist comprising a frame verticallymovable to maintain the top of the pile at approximately said level anda pair of opposed arms supported by said frame and having first portionsadapted to engage the opposite sides of said pallet to support thepallet and pile in a position for feeding sheets from the top of thepile, the improvement which comprises pivot means connecting each ofsaid arms to said frame and supporting said arms for movement aboutparallel axes to selectively engage and disengage the arms with saidpallet, and actuating means on said frame connected to said arms forselectively operating one of said arms in either direction about itsaxis and the other of said arms in the same direction about its axis,and further actuating means for selectively actuating one of said armsin either direction about its axis and the other of said arms in theopposite direction about its axis.

5. In an apparatus for feeding sheets from the top of a pile of sheetsand comprising a pile hoist for lifting a pallet having a pile of sheetsthereon and for maintaining the top of the sheet pile at approximately apredetermined feed level, said hoist comprising a frame verticallymovable to maintain the top of the pile at approximately said level anda pair of opposed arms supported by said frame and havingpallet-engaging portions adapted to engage the opposite sides of saidpallet to support the pallet and pile in a position for feeding sheetsfrom the top of the pile, the improvement which comprises pivotconnections connecting said opposed arms to said frame for rocking'movement about parallel axes to selectively move said arms eithertoward or away from said pallet, a member 'supported on said frameintermediate said arms, an individual link pivoted to each arm andconnected to said, 7

member, and actuating means on said member and connected to said linksfor selectively moving said links endwise toward or away from saidmember, and means for moving said member toward one or the other of saidarms selectively.

6. In an apparatus for feeding sheets from the top of a pile of sheets,the structure as defined in claim 5 wherein said actuating meanscomprises a rotatable shaft on said member, first and second eccentricmembers on said shaft and first and second cooperating elements on saidfirst and second links respectively cooperating with said first andsecond eccentric members respectively to actuate said links endwise uponrotation of said shaft.

7. In an apparatus for feeding sheets from the top of a pile andincluding sheet separating and forwarding suckers for separating andforwarding the top sheet of the pile, pull-in rolls receiving theseparated sheet from the forwarding suckers, a pile hoist for lifting apallet having a pile of sheets thereon and for maintaining the top ofthe pile at approximately a predetermined feed level, the 'pile on thepallet supported by said elevating mechanism having a front sidegenerally parallel to and facing said rolls and said hoist including avertically movable frame and a pair of opposed arms depending from saidframe and having first portions adapted to engage said pallet onopposite sides thereof to support the pallet and pile thereon in aposition for feeding sheets from the pile while maintaining the topthereof at said predetermined feed level, a plurality of transverselyspaced vertical guides engaging the front of said pile and extendingupwardly to a point adjacent said pull-in rolls, means connecting eachof said arms to said frame for movement in first and second directionsto respectively move the first portion thereof toward and away from saidpile, and operating means connected to said arms for moving said armsselectively in their first or second directions simultaneously, theimprovement which comprises further operating means connected to saidarms for selectively moving either one of said arms in its firstdirection and the other of said arms in its second direction, a pilesupporting member adjacent said guides and disposed adjacent the frontend of a pallet supported by said arms, a support member for said pilesupporting member carried by said frame, means connecting said pilesupporting member to said support member and mounting said pilesupporting member for movement from a position outwardly of the frontside of said pile to a second position inwardly of and under the frontside of said pile for supporting the front edge of said pile, biasingmeans connected between said frame and said pile supporting member andurging said pile supporting member into engagement with the front end ofsaid pallet and eifeeting movement of said pile supporting member tosaid second posi tion upon withdrawal of said pallet.

8. In an apparatus for feeding sheets from the top of a pile as definedin claim 7 wherein said support member extends outwardly of the sides ofthe pile supported on said pallet, and said frame has means dependingtherefrom and disposed outwardly of the sides of the pile on said palletfor supporting said support member.

9. In an apparatus for feeding sheets from the top of a pile as definedin claim 8 wherein said pile supporting member is disposed between apair of adjacent front guides and fits closely into the spacetherebetween, said arms being movable relative to said guides to any oftheir positions while said pile supporting member is constrained againsttransverse movement relative to said guides.

10. In an apparatus for feeding sheets from the top of a pile andincluding sheet separating and forwarding suckers for separating andforwarding the top sheet of the pile, a pull-in roll for receiving theseparated sheet from the forwarding suckers, a new pile hoist forsupporting and lifting a pallet having a pile of sheets thereon and tomaintain the top of the pile at approximately a predetermined feedlevel, the pile on the pallet supported by said new pile hoist havi g afront side generally parallel to and facing said pull-in roll, aplurality of transversely spaced vertical guides engaging the front ofthe pile on said new pile hoist and extending upwardly to a pointadjacent said pull-in roll, a remnant pile hoist for taking the palletfrom said new pile hoist after said pallet has been elevated to apredetermined height by said new pile hoist and the pile thereonpartially depleted, said remnant pile hoist being operable to elevatethe pallet with the remnant pile thereon to maintain the top of theremnant pile at said predetermined feed level and including a verticallymovable frame and a pair of opposed arms depending from said frame andhaving first portions adapted to engage said pallet on opposite sidesthereof to support the pallet and pile thereon in a position for feedingsheets from the pile while maintaining the top thereof at saidpredetermined feed level, means connecting each of said arms to saidframe for movement in first and second directions to respectively movethe first portion thereof toward and away from said pile, and operatingmeans connected to said arms for moving said arms selectively in theirfirst or second directions simultaneously, the improvement whichcomprises further operating means connected to said arms for selectively moving either one of said arms in its first direction and the otherof said arms in its second direction, a pile supporting member adjacentsaid guides and disposed adjacentthe front end of a pallet supported bysaid arms, a support member for said pile supporting member carried bysaid frame, means connecting said pile supporting member to said supportmember and mounting said pile supporting member for movement from aposition outwardly of the front side of said pile to a second positioninwardly of and under the front side of said pile for supporting thefront edge of said pi-le, biasing means connected between said frame andsaid pile supporting member and urging said pile supporting member intoengagement with the front end of said pallet and effecting movement ofsaid pile supporting member to said second position upon withdrawal ofsaid pallet.

11. In an apparatus for feeding sheets from the top of a pile andincluding pull-in rolls for taking sheets and forwarding the same, aframe including means for supporting in a generally horizontal positiona pallet having a pile of sheets thereon, the pile on the palletsupported by said frame having a front side generally parallel to andfacing said pull-in rolls and said frame being moved vertically tomaintain the top of the pile of sheets at approximately a predeterminedlevel for feeding the top sheet-edgewise from the top of the pile tosaid pull-in rolls, said pallet being removable from said frame byhorizontal movement in the direction opposite to the direction of sheetmovement to said pull-in rolls and said sheet feeder includingtransversely spaced guide bars engaging and guiding the front of saidpile in its vertical movement, the improvement which comprises a supportmember carried by said frame, and a pile supporting member disposedadjacent said guides and reciprocably supported by said support memberfor movement toward and away from the front edge of a pallet supportedby said frame and movable from a position outwardly of said pile to asecond position inwardly of the front edge of said pile, said pilesupporting member being adapted to engage the front edge of said palletand being movable to said second position under the front edge of saidpile as the pallet is withdrawn.

12. In a sheet feeder as defined in claim 11 wherein said support memberis disposed below the pallet position on said frame and said pilesupporting member extends upwardly from said support member and theupper end thereof is disposed inwardly of said guides when the pilesupporting member is in said second position.

13. In a sheet feeder as defined in claim 11 wherein at least threeguide bars are provided for guiding the front side of the pile and inwhich a pile supporting member is disposed between each pair of adjacentguides.

14. In an apparatus for feeding sheets from the top of a pile andincluding pull-in rolls for taking sheets and forwarding the same, aframe including means for supporting in a generally horizontal positiona pallet having a pile of sheets thereon, the pile on the palletsupported by said frame having a front side generally parallel to andfacing said pull-in rolls and said frame being moved vertically tomaintain'the top of the pile of sheets at approximately a predeterminedlevel for feeding the top sheet edgewise from the top of the pile tosaid pull-in rolls, said pallet being removable from said frame byhorizontal movement in the direction opposite to the direction of .sheetmovement :to said pull-in rolls and said sheet feeder includingtransversely spaced guide bars engaging and guiding the front of saidpile in its vertical movement, the improvement which comprises a supportmember carried by said frame, a pile supporting member disposed adjacentsaid guides and reciprocably supported by said support member formovement toward and away from the front edge of a pallet supported bysaid frame and movable from a position outwardly of said pile to asepond-position inwardly of'the front edge of said pile, said pilesupporting member being adapted to engage the front edge of said palletwhile the latter is supporting a pile on said frame and being movable tosaid second position under the front edge of said pile as the pallet iswithdrawn, and means connected between said frame and said pilesupporting member for urging said pile supporting member toward saidsecond position.

15. In .a'sheet feeder as defined in claim 14 wherein at least threeguide bars are provided for guiding the front side of the pile and inwhich a pile supporting member is disposed between each pair of adjacentguides.

16-. A machine for separating and forwarding sheets from the top of apile wherein the separated sheets are fed by forwarding means to apull-in roll adjacent the front of the pile and which includes a pilehoisting means for gradually raising the pile as the sheets are removedfrom the top, said pile hoisting means comprising a new pile hoist and aremnant pile hoist, said remnant pile hoist being adapted to take apartially exhausted pile from the new pile hoist and to continue theelevation thereof and including a pile carrying member adjacent thefront of the pile and a support bar for mounting said pile carryingmember, said support bar being moved upwardly when said remnant pilehoist is operated to raise said pile, and said pile carrying memberextending upwardly from said support bar and having a pile supportingposition under the front edge of said pile in which it is adapted toextend into the space between said pull-in roll and the plane of thefront of said pile when said support bar is at the upper limit of itsmovement.

17. In a machine as defined in claim 16 wherein said pile carryingmember is movably supported for movement from said pile supportingposition to a position outwardly of said pile.

18. In a machine as defined in claim 16 wherein said pile carryingmember is movably supported for movement from said pile supportingposition to a position outwardly of said pile and wherein biasing meansis connected to said pile supporting member and urges said member tosaid pile supporting position.

19. In a machine for separating the top sheet from a pile of sheets anddelivering it to pull-in rolls adjacent the front side of pile andhaving a frame for supporting said pile of sheets and movable verticallyto maintain the top of the pile at a predetermined level approximatelyat the height of said pull-in rolls and stationary transversely spacedvertical guides engaging the front side of the pile of sheets andterminating below the path of movement of the sheet from the top of thepile to the pull-in rolls, the improvement which comprises a pilesupporting member mounted on said frame and having a pile carryingposition in which an upper part thereof is disposed under the front edgeof the pile and wherein the outer side of the upper part facing in thedirection of sheet movement is disposed inwardly toward the pile from avertical plane containing the axis of said pull-in roll, whereby saidpile supporting member is movable upwardly to approximately saidpredetermined level without striking said pull-in roll, and a supportmember outwardly of said guides mounting said pile supporting member andcarried by said frame and disposed below said part.

20. In the method of feeding sheets continuously wherein sheets arepiled on a pallet, the sheets fed from the top of the pile while liftingthe pile to maintain the top thereof at a feeding level as the pile isdepleted and wherein a new pile is positioned beneath the partiallydepleted pile and raised until it approaches the partially depleted pileat which time the pallet is withdrawn to combine the pile thereon withthe new pile and as the pallet is withdrawn the rear edge of the pile issupported by a member or part of the pallet of reduced thickness ascompared to the thickness of the pallet proper while the piles are movedcloser together to prevent the rear edge of the pile "from dropping inone step the thickness of the pallet as the latter is withdrawn, theimprovement which comprises supporting the front edge of the partiallydepleted pile independently of the new pile as the pallet is withdrawnto prevent the front edge of the partially depleted pile from droppingthe thickness of the pallet and onto the new pile and continuing theelevating of said front edge to maintain the front edge of the partiallydepleted pile at approximately feeding height.

21. An apparatus for forwarding sheets from the top of a pile includinga stationary frame, a pile hoist for supporting a pallet having a pileof sheets thereon, said pile having a front side and rear side and saidsheets being fed from the pile by moving the sheet away from the frontside in a direction extending from the rear side of the pile toward thefront side thereof, said hoist being operable to maintain the top of thepile at a feeding level while sheets are being removed therefrom andcomprising a movable frame supported by said stationary frame forvertical movement and a pair of front hangers and a pair of rear hangersdepending from said movable frame adjacent the front and rear sides ofthe pile, said hangers having means at the lower ends thereof forsupporting said pallet on said movable frame and being movable relativeto said movable frame to move to and from pallet-supporting positions,and means supporting said pair of front hangers and said pair of rearhangers respectively for adjusting movement in the same directionrelative to said stationary frame and parallel to the front side of saidpile, and said hoist including means for selectively eifecting saidadjusting movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS820,804 Lucy May 15, 1906 1,388,161 Blaine Aug. 23, 1921 1,617,374Christophel Feb. 15, 1927 1,626,353 Olson Apr. 26, 1927 1,809,495Stromberg et al. June 9, 1931 2,208,304 Goodwin July 16, 1940 2,265,617Yates Dec. 9, 1941 2,266,596 Goodwin Dec. 16, 1941 2,549,364 Bobst Apr.17, 1951 2,701,136 Schmidt et al Feb. 1, 1955 2,757,929 Williams Aug. 7,1956 2,838,306 Williams June 10, 1958 2,898,105 Schmidt Aug. 4, 1959

